Removable Adhesive Label Containing Inherently Shrinkable Polymeric Film

ABSTRACT

An adhesive label includes a polymeric first film layer that is nonoriented and has a significant inherent shrinkage when heated above ambient temperature. The label is useful in various labeling applications and especially adhesive labeling of reusable and recyclable containers which require removal of the label during a washing process in a warm or hot washing fluid.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/262,439 filed Sep. 30, 2011, which is a 371 of InternationalApplication No. PCT/US2010/029178 which was published in English on Oct.14, 2010, and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.61/164,680 filed Mar. 30, 2009, all of which are incorporated byreference herein in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention involves an adhesive label that contains aninherently shrinkable polymeric film and a related labeled container.The label is useful in various labeling applications and especially inadhesive labeling applications involving reusable and recyclablecontainers.

2. Description of the Related Art

Labels are applied to numerous articles of commerce to conveyinformation regarding a manufacturer and a product. Articles of commerceinclude plastic, paper, metal and glass containers for a multitude ofconsumer and industrial products such as for example bottled beverageindustry products. A particularly demanding labeling application is forreusable and recyclable beverage bottles, especially for the bottledbeer industry, where the label requirements generally include highclarity visual aesthetics, abrasion resistance during processing andhandling of beverage bottles, resistance to any deleterious effects dueto moisture during cold storage or a pasteurization process, andremovability of the label from the bottle during a washing process in awarm or hot washing fluid such as for example a 50 to 90° C. aqueouscaustic solution where the removed label does not clog the washingprocess equipment. The washing process allows the washed bottle toconsequently be reused or recycled. The washed bottle offers theflexibility of being refilled and relabeled for any number of beverageproducts. Labels currently employed for reusable and recyclable beveragebottles include paper labels and stretched, thermally shrinkablepolymeric labels. Paper labels lack high clarity visual aesthetics.Stretched, thermally shrinkable polymeric labels upon removal tend tocurl up tightly into a needle shape which can clog washing processequipment. Labels meeting the requirements for the reusable andrecyclable bottled beverage industry are desirable.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a label where thelabel comprises (a) a film having a first surface and a second surfaceand comprising a first film layer, and (b) an adhesive layer having afirst surface and a second surface and comprising an adhesive where thefirst surface of the adhesive layer is adhesively joined to the secondsurface of the film, where the first film layer comprises at least onenon-oriented thermoplastic polymer where the thermoplastic polymer has aglass transition temperature in the range of from about 40° C. to about190° C., the first film layer has a tensile modulus (American Societyfor Testing and Materials, hereinafter “ASTM” D882) in a machinedirection in ambient air and a tensile modulus (ASTM D882) in themachine direction after heating where the tensile modulus in the machinedirection after immersion heating is less than the tensile modulus inthe machine direction in ambient air. In a further embodiment, the firstfilm layer has an areal shrinkage (ASTM D1204) of at least about 5.3%after immersion in water at a temperature of about 80° C. for at leastabout 3 minutes.

Another exemplary embodiment is the above described label where the filmis a monolayered film.

Another exemplary embodiment is the above described label where the filmis a multilayered film.

Another exemplary embodiment is the above described label where thefirst film layer comprises two or more layers where each of the two ormore layers comprises at least one thermoplastic polymer where thethermoplastic polymer has a glass transition temperature in the range offrom about 40° C. to about 190° C. In a further embodiment, each of thetwo or more layers has a tensile modulus (ASTM D882) in a machinedirection after heating which is less than the tensile modulus in themachine direction in ambient air. In a further embodiment, each of thetwo or more layers has an areal shrinkage (ASTM D1204) of at least 5.3%after immersion in water at a temperature of about 80° C. for at leastabout 3 minutes, and each of the two or more layers is nonoriented.

Another exemplary embodiment is the above described label where the filmcomprises a second film layer where the second film layer comprises oneor more layers where each of the one or more layers of the second filmlayer comprises at least one thermoplastic polymer, and each of the oneor more layers of the second film layer has a tensile modulus in themachine direction after heating that is less than the tensile modulus inthe machine direction in ambient air. In a further embodiment, each ofthe layers has an areal shrinkage (ASTM D1204) of less than 5.3% afterimmersion in water at a temperature of about 80° C. for at least about 3minutes. In a further embodiment, each of the layers has a combinationof the two foregoing properties.

Another exemplary embodiment is the above described label where thelabel comprises a release liner having a first surface and a secondsurface where the first surface of the release liner is releasablyattached to the second surface of the adhesive layer.

Another exemplary embodiment is a labeled container that includes theabove described label and a container where (i) the label is attached tothe container having a horizontal axis where the second surface of theadhesive layer is adhesively joined to an outer surface of thecontainer, (ii) the machine direction or the transverse direction of thefirst film layer circumferentially follows the horizontal axis of thecontainer. In a further embodiment, the label is removable from thecontainer after immersion in a liquid where the temperature of theliquid is at least 50° C. and the label detaches from the container.

Other embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments taken inconjunction with the accompanying Drawings and the appended Claims, allof which exemplarily illustrate the principles of the present invention,but do not limit the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The components in the figures of the appended drawings are not to scale.Components appearing in more than one figure have been given the samereference number to show the correspondence.

FIG. 1A is a sectional view of a label containing two layers accordingto a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 1B is a sectional view of a label containing three layers accordingto a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 1C is a sectional view of a label containing three layers accordingto a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 1D is a sectional view of a label containing four layers accordingto a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 1E is a sectional view of a label containing four layers accordingto a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first film layer of a label showing amachine direction and a transverse direction.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a label containing a release lineraccording to a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a label attached to a cylindricallyshaped container according to a preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 4, a label 10, 20, 30, 40 or 50 of the presentinvention is useful in commercial labeling applications that includelabeling of articles of commerce such as for example plastic, paper,metal and glass containers 72 for a multitude of consumer and industrialproducts. The container can be any shaped container including a bottle,a jug, a jar or a drum. In an embodiment the container is a glassbeverage bottle having a cylindrically shaped body that includes a beerbottle. The label, as described hereinbelow, on a labeled container hashigh clarity visual aesthetics, abrasion resistance during processingand handling of the container, resistance to any deleterious effects dueto moisture during cold storage or a pasteurization process, andremovability of the label from the container during a washing process ina warm or hot washing fluid that includes a 50 to 100° C. water bath oraqueous caustic solution where the removed label does not clog thewashing process equipment.

First Film Layer

Referring to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D and 1E the labels 10, 20, 30, 40 and50 of the present invention comprise a first film layer 12. The firstfilm layer has a relatively substantial loss in tensile modulus whenimmersed in a warm or hot washing fluid compared to the tensile modulusof the first film layer in ambient air. In embodiments the first filmlayer has a tensile modulus (ASTM D882) in a machine direction in 23° C.ambient air and a tensile modulus (ASTM D882) in the machine directionafter immersion in water at a temperature of about 80° C. for at leastabout 3 minutes where the tensile modulus in the machine direction afterimmersion in water at a temperature of about 80° C. for at least about 3minutes is at least 40%, at least 47%, or at least 53% of the tensilemodulus in the machine direction in 23° C. ambient air. Ambient air canhave a relative humidity ranging from 0 to 100% and typically rangingfrom 30 to 70%, 40 to 60%, or 45 to 55%. Referring to FIG. 2, the firstfilm layer 12 has three directions or dimensions to include a machinedirection (MD) and a transverse direction (TD) where the machinedirection is the direction that the first film layer is advanced duringits manufacture and the transverse direction is the direction that isnormal or perpendicular to the machine direction and the machine andtransverse directions lie in the largest areal plane of the first filmlayer. The third direction or dimension of the first film layer is itsthickness which is perpendicular to the areal plane containing themachine and transverse directions. In embodiments the first film layerhas a tensile modulus (ASTM D882) in a machine direction in 23° C.ambient air and a tensile modulus (ASTM D882) in the machine directionafter immersion in water at a temperature of about 80° C. for at leastabout 3 minutes where the tensile modulus in the machine direction afterimmersion in water at a temperature of about 80° C. for at least about 3minutes is 40 to 66%, 47 to 65%, or 53 to 64% of the tensile modulus inthe machine direction in 23° C. ambient air. In embodiments the firstfilm layer has a tensile modulus (ASTM D882) in the machine direction ofat least 800 MPa (megapascals), at least 1024 MPa, or at least 1236 MPaafter immersion in water at a temperature of about 80° C. for at leastabout 3 minutes. The first film layer has a relatively hightwo-dimensional change in area as measured in the machine direction andthe transverse direction after immersion in a warm or hot washing fluid.In embodiments the first film layer has an areal shrinkage (ASTM D1204)of at least 5.3%, at least 7.9%, or at least 10.5% after immersion inwater at a temperature of about 80° C. for at least about 3 minutes. Theareal shrinkage results in a reduction in the area of the first filmlayer as measured in the machine direction and the transverse direction.The first film layer is nonoriented, as described in more detailhereinbelow, and has a significant inherent shrinkage when heated aboveambient temperature where the ambient temperature can range from 10 to50° C. Usually a film layer containing a thermoplastic polymer requiresa stretching or orientation step without an annealing step or with apartial annealing step in order to have significant linear or arealshrinkage when heated above ambient temperature. In embodiments thefirst film layer is nonoriented and has a significant inherent shrinkagewhere the first film layer has an areal shrinkage (ASTM D1204) asmeasured in the machine direction and transverse direction in 80° C.ambient air of at least 6%, at least 10.1%, or at least 14.2%. Therelative humidity of 80° C. ambient air can range from 0 to 100%, 0 to70%, or 0 to 40%.

The first film layer comprises at least one thermoplastic polymer. Inembodiments the thermoplastic polymer of the first film layer has aglass transition temperature in the range of 40 to 190° C., 45 to 145°C., 50 to 100° C., or 55 to 75° C. The glass transition temperature canbe measured using a differential scanning calorimeter. In embodimentsthe thermoplastic polymer of the first film layer comprises a polymerselected from the group consisting of a cyclic olefin homopolymer, acyclic olefin copolymer, and a mixture of two or more of any of theforegoing polymers. A mixture of two or more of any of the foregoingpolymers is defined as including a mixture of two or more polymers ofthe same kind such as for example two or more cyclic olefin homopolymersor a mixture of one or more polymers of one kind and one or morepolymers of one or more different kinds such as for example a mixture ofone or more cyclic olefin homopolymers and one or more cyclic olefincopolymers. Cyclic olefins include unsaturated alicyclics which includealiphatic hydrocarbons having one or more rings and one or more doublebonds where the one or more double bonds can be located within the oneor more rings and/or external to the one or more rings as an attachmentor attachments. Cyclic olefins include for example cyclobutenes,cyclopentenes to include cyclopentene and 1-methylcyclopentene,norbornenes to include norbornene, vinylcyclohexane, anddicyclopentadiene. In an embodiment the cyclic olefin includesunsaturated alicyclics having one double bond where the double bond islocated within a ring. In an embodiment the cyclic olefin copolymerincludes copolymers derived from at least one cyclic olefin monomer andat least one alpha-olefin monomer. The alpha-olefin monomer can contain2 to 12 carbon atoms, 2 to 8 carbon atoms, or 2 to 4 carbon atoms. Inembodiments the cyclic olefin copolymer can have a cyclic olefin contenton a weight basis of 40 to 90%, 50 to 80%, or 60 to 70%. The cyclicolefin homopolymers and cyclic olefin copolymers can be preparedrespectively from a cyclic olefin monomer or from at least one cyclicolefin monomer and at least one alpha-olefin monomer using apolymerization catalyst to include a Ziegler-Natta catalyst or ametallocene catalyst. Useful cyclic olefin homopolymers and copolymersinclude for example the APEL™ cyclic olefin copolymer series from MitsuiChemicals America, Inc. of Rye Brook, N.Y., the ZEONEX™ cyclic olefinhomopolymer series and the ZEONOR™ cyclic olefin copolymer series fromZeon Chemicals L. P. of Louisville, Ky., and the TOPAS™ethylene-norbornene based cyclic olefin copolymer series from TOPASAdvanced Polymers, Inc. of Florence, Ky.

The film or a film layer or film layers of the film, to include thefirst film layer, can contain one or more additives to improveprocessing during film manufacture and during conversion to a label andto improve label end use performance. The additives include a nucleatingagent, an antiblocking agent, a processing aid, a slip agent, anantistatic agent, a pigment, a cavitating agent, an inorganic filler, aheat stabilizer, an antioxidant, a flame retardant, an acid acceptor, avisible and/or ultraviolet light stabilizer, or a mixture of two or moreof any of the foregoing additives. The additives can be present in theabove described thermoplastic polymers as supplied by a vendor or can beintroduced into the film or a film layer as an additive concentratewhere the additive is present generally in a relatively large amount of2 to 90% by weight, depending on its use, in the concentrate with athermoplastic polymer carrier. The additives, depending on their use,can be present in the film or a film layer from 0.001% to 90% by weight.Additives for use in the film or a film layer are further described inU.S. Pat. No. 6,821,592 to Rodick and U.S. Pat. No. 7,217,463 toHenderson.

In an embodiment the first film layer is monolayered and has only onelayer. In another embodiment the first film layer is multilayered andhas two or more layers. In embodiments the one layer of the monolayeredfirst film layer or each of the two or more layers of the multilayeredfirst film layer comprises at least one thermoplastic polymer where thethermoplastic polymer has a glass transition temperature in the range of40 to 190° C., 45 to 145° C., 50 to 100° C., or 55 to 75° C., the onelayer of the monolayered first film layer or each of the two or morelayers of the multilayered first film layer has a tensile modulus (ASTMD882) in a machine direction in 23° C. ambient air and a tensile modulus(ASTM D882) in the machine direction after immersion in water at atemperature of about 80° C. for at least about 3 minutes where thetensile modulus in the machine direction after immersion in water at atemperature of about 80° C. for at least about 3 minutes is at least40%, at least 47%, or at least 53% of the tensile modulus in the machinedirection in 23° C. ambient air, the one layer of the monolayered firstfilm layer or each of the two or more layers of the multilayered firstfilm layer has an areal shrinkage (ASTM D1204) of at least 5.3%, atleast 7.9%, or at least 10.5% after immersion in water at a temperatureof about 80° C. for at least about 3 minutes, and the one layer of themonolayered first film layer or each of the two or more layers of themultilayered first film layer is nonoriented. In embodiments the onelayer of the monolayered first film layer or each of the two or morelayers of the multilayered first film layer has a tensile modulus (ASTMD882) in a machine direction in 23° C. ambient air and a tensile modulus(ASTM D882) in the machine direction after immersion in water at atemperature of about 80° C. for at least about 3 minutes where thetensile modulus in the machine direction after immersion in water at atemperature of about 80° C. for at least about 3 minutes is 40 to 66%,47 to 65%, or 53 to 64% of the tensile modulus in the machine directionin 23° C. ambient air. In embodiments the one layer of the monolayeredfirst film layer or each of the two or more layers of the multilayeredfirst film layer has a tensile modulus (ASTM D882) in the machinedirection of at least 812 MPa (megapascals), at least 1024 MPa, or atleast 1236 MPa after immersion in water at a temperature of about 80° C.for at least about 3 minutes. In embodiments the one layer of themonolayered first film layer or each of the two or more layers of themultilayered first film layer is nonoriented and has an areal shrinkage(ASTM D1204) as measured in the machine direction and transversedirection in 80° C. ambient air of at least 6%, at least 10.1%, or atleast 14.2%. In an embodiment the first film layer, as describedhereinabove, can contain one or more other thermoplastic polymersprovided that the first film layer maintains its tensile modulus anddimensional change properties as described hereinabove.

Second Film Layer

Referring to FIGS. 1B, 1C, 1D and 1E the labels 20, 30, 40 and 50 of thepresent invention comprise a film that comprises a second film layer 22.The second film layer compared to the first film layer, after immersionin water at a temperature of about 80° C., has a higher loss in tensilemodulus in a machine direction or a lower areal dimensional change or acombination of the two foregoing properties. In an embodiment the secondfilm layer is monolayered and has only one layer. In another embodimentthe second film layer is multilayered and has two or more layers. Inembodiments the second film layer comprises one or more layers whereeach of the one or more layers comprises at least one thermoplasticpolymer, and each of the one or more layers of the second film layer hasa property selected from the group consisting of a tensile modulus (ASTMD882) in a machine direction in 23° C. ambient air and a tensile modulus(ASTM D882) in the machine direction after immersion in water at atemperature of about 80° C. for at least about 3 minutes where thetensile modulus in the machine direction after immersion in water at atemperature of about 80° C. for at least about 3 minutes is less than40%, less than 35%, or less than 30% of the tensile modulus in themachine direction in 23° C. ambient air, an areal shrinkage (ASTM D1204)of less than 5.3%, less than 4.2%, or less than 3.5% after immersion inwater at a temperature of about 80° C. for at least about 3 minutes, anda combination of the two foregoing properties.

The at least one thermoplastic polymer of the second film layercomprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of a polyolefin,a (meth)acrylate polymer, a styrene polymer, a polyester, ahalogen-containing polymer, a polycarbonate, a polyacrylonitrile, anaromatic polyether, an aromatic polyimide, an aromatic polyamide-imide,an olefin-vinyl alcohol copolymer, a polyamide, and a mixture of two ormore of any of the foregoing polymers. In embodiments the aromaticpolyether includes an aromatic polyether selected from the groupconsisting of an aromatic polyether ketone, an aromaticpolyetheretherketone, an aromatic polyether imide, an aromaticpolysulfone, an aromatic polyethersulfone, a polyphenylsulfone, and amixture of two or more of any of the foregoing aromatic polyethers. Inembodiments the thermoplastic polymer of the second film layer comprisesa polymer selected from the group consisting of an isotacticpolypropylene homopolymer, an isotactic polypropylene random copolymer,a poly(alkyl methacrylate), a polystyrene homopolymer, an aromaticpolycarboxylic acid based polyester, a polylactic acid, an aromaticpolycarbonate, an aromatic polyetherketone, an aromaticpolyetheretherketone, an aromatic polyether imide, an aromaticpolysulfone, an aromatic polyethersulfone, a polyphenylsulfone, anaromatic polyimide, an aromatic polyamide-imide, an ethylene-vinylalcohol copolymer, an aromatic polyamide, and a mixture of two or moreof any of the foregoing polymers.

The (meth)acrylate polymer of the second film layer includeshomopolymers of an alkyl acrylate or of an alkyl methacrylate,copolymers of two or more alkyl acrylates or of two or more alkylmethacrylates where the two or more alkyl acrylates or alkylmethacrylates differ in the number of carbon atoms in the alkyl group,copolymers of one or more alkyl acrylates and one or more alkylmethacrylates, and mixtures of two or more of any of the foregoingpolymers. In an embodiment the (meth)acrylate polymer includeshomopolymers of an alkyl methacrylate where the alkyl group has 1 to 12or 1 to 8 or 1 to 4 carbon atoms and the alkyl methacrylate homopolymerhas a density of 1.05 to 1.25 g/cm³ and a melt flow rate (ASTM D1238) at230° C./3.8 kg of 0.5 to 40 g/10 minutes. In an embodiment the(meth)acrylate polymer contains an impact modifier where the impactmodifier is a polymeric elastomer which can be derived from an aromaticmonomer to include for example styrene-butadiene rubber impactmodifiers. The (meth)acrylate polymers are generally prepared by acatalyzed polymerization such as for example by free radical catalysis.Useful (meth)acrylate polymers include alkyl methacrylate homopolymerssuch as for example the ALTUGLAS® and PLEXIGLAS® poly(methylmethacrylate) resin series manufactured by Arkema Inc. of Philadelphia,Pa., and the LUCITE® poly(methyl methacrylate) resin series manufacturedby Lucite International of Parkersburg, W.V.

The polyamide of the second film layer includes polymers selected fromthe group consisting of a nonaromatic polyamide, an aromatic polyamide,and mixtures of two or more of any of the foregoing polymers.Nonaromatic polyamides do not contain repeating aromatic groups whilearomatic polyamides contain only repeating aromatic groups or containboth repeating aromatic groups and repeating nonaromatic groups.Polyamides can be prepared by a condensation of an amino carboxylic acidor an amino carboxylic acid halide monomer, by a ring openingpolymerization of a lactam to include for example a ring openingpolymerization of caprolactam to form polycaprolactam or nylon 6, or bya condensation of a polyamine monomer and a polycarboxylic acid orpolycarboxylic acid halide monomer to include for example thecondensation of 1,6-hexanediamine and adipic acid or adipic acidchloride to form the polyamide nylon 66. Useful polyamides include forexample the nonaromatic nylon 6 and nylon 66 ULTRAMID® resins from BASFCorporation of Florham Park, N.J. and the aromatic nylon MXD6 resinsfrom Mitsubishi Gas Chemical American, Inc. of New York, N.Y. where thenylon MXD6 resins are derived from meta-xylylenediamine and adipic acidor an adipic acid halide.

The polycarbonate of the second film layer includes polymers that haverepeating hydrocarbon based groups linked together by carbonate groupswhich are also known as carbonyldioxy groups. In an embodiment thepolycarbonate has a density of 1.1 to 1.32 g/cm³ and a melt flow rate(ASTM D1238) at 300° C./1.2 kg of 0.5 to 40 g/10 minutes. In embodimentsthe polycarbonate includes an aromatic polycarbonate, a nonaromaticpolycarbonate, or a mixture of two or more of any of the foregoingpolycarbonates. The nonaromatic polycarbonates include polymers whichcan be prepared by metal catalyzed reaction of an epoxide with carbondioxide. The aromatic polycarbonates include polymers which can beprepared by reaction of a polyhydroxy-substituted arene, to include forexample bisphenol A also known as 4,4′-isopropylidenediphenol, withphosgene or a dialkyl or diaryl carbonate to include for exampledimethyl carbonate. Arenes are aromatic unsaturated cyclic hydrocarbons.Useful polycarbonates include for example the polycarbonate MAKROLON®1804, from Bayer Material Science of Baytown, Tex., which has a densityof 1.2 g/cm³ and a melt flow rate (ASTM D1238) at 300° C./1.2 kg of 6.5g/10 minutes, and the polycarbonate LUPILON® 53000R, from MitsubishiChemical and available through Polymer Technology & Services, LLC ofMurfreesboro, Tenn., which has a density of 1.2 g/cm³ and a melt flowrate (ASTM D1238) at 300° C./1.2 kg of 16.5 g/10 minutes and is madefrom bisphenol A.

The olefin-vinyl alcohol copolymer of the second film layer includes atleast one copolymer of an olefin monomer containing 2 to 12 carbon atomsand a vinyl alcohol monomer. The olefin-vinyl alcohol copolymer can beprepared by polymerizing at least one olefin monomer and a vinyl acetatemonomer using a free radical catalyst to form an olefin-vinyl acetatecopolymer which is then hydrolyzed to form the olefin-vinyl alcoholcopolymer. In an embodiment the olefin-vinyl alcohol copolymer is anethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer. In embodiments the olefin content ofthe olefin-vinyl alcohol copolymer on a mole basis ranges from 5% to90%, 12% to 73%, 20% to 55%, or 25% to 50%. In embodiments anethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer has a glass transition temperature inthe range of 40 to 90° C., 45 to 85° C., 47 to 80° C., or 60 to 80° C.Useful olefin-vinyl alcohol copolymers include for example theethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer EVAL® resins from EVAL Americas ofHouston, Tex.

The second film layer, including the one layer or each of the two ormore layers of the second film layer, can contain one or more additivesas described hereinabove for the first film layer. In an embodiment thesecond film layer, as described hereinabove, can contain one or moreother thermoplastic polymers provided that the second film layermaintains its tensile modulus or dimensional change properties or acombination of these properties as described hereinabove.

Adhesive Layer

Referring to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D and 1E the labels 10, 20, 30, 40 and50 of the present invention comprise an adhesive layer 14. The adhesivelayer comprises an adhesive where the adhesive includes an adhesiveselected from the group consisting of a natural adhesive, a syntheticadhesive, and a mixture of two or more of any of the foregoingadhesives. Synthetic adhesives include pressure sensitive adhesives. Inan embodiment the adhesive of the adhesive layer is a pressure sensitiveadhesive. A pressure sensitive adhesive is an adhesive that forms a bondbetween the adhesive and an adherend, to include for example where theadherend is a polymeric film or a container, with the application ofpressure. Pressure sensitive adhesives (PSAs) include acrylic-basedPSAs, rubber-based PSAs, and silicone-based PSAs. In an embodiment theadhesive of the adhesive layer is an acrylic-based pressure sensitiveadhesive. Pressure sensitive adhesives include emulsion or water-basedPSAs, solvent-based PSAs, and solid PSAs which are water-free andsolvent-free to include for example hot melt pressure sensitiveadhesives. In an embodiment the adhesive of the adhesive layer is anemulsion acrylic-based pressure sensitive adhesive. In severalembodiments the adhesive of the adhesive layer, to include for example apressure sensitive adhesive, has a property selected from the groupconsisting of a decrease in adhesion strength at elevated temperaturesgenerally above a room or ambient temperature, a decrease in adhesionstrength on contact with an aqueous caustic solution such as for examplean aqueous caustic soda solution, and a combination of the two foregoingproperties. In other embodiments the adhesive of the adhesive layer isused on a dry weight coating basis at 5 to 40 g/m² (grams per squaremeter), 8 to 35 g/m², or 10 to 30 g/m². Pressure sensitive adhesives aredescribed in Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Engineering, Vol. 13,Wiley-Interscience Publishers, New York, 1988 and in Polymer Science andTechnology, Vol. 1, Interscience Publishers, New York, 1964. Usefuladhesives are available from H. B. Fuller Company of Saint Paul, Minn.and Henkel Corporation of Gulph Mills, Pa.

Release Liner/Other Components

Referring to FIG. 3 the labels 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 of the presentinvention can include a release liner 62. The release liner can bemonolayered having only one layer or can be multilayered having two ormore layers. The layer or layers of the release liner can include alayer selected from the group consisting of a paper layer to include forexample a calendered glassine paper layer, a polymeric layer to includefor example a polyolefin-based layer or a poly(ethyleneterephthalate)-based layer, and in the case of a multilayered releaseliner a combination of two or more of any of the foregoing layers. Therelease liner has a first surface 61 and a second surface 63 andnormally includes a release coating on at least the first surface of therelease liner. The release coating, to include for example anorganosiloxane polymer release coating also known as a silicone releasecoating, allows the release liner to be releasably attached to theadhesive layer of the label so that the release liner can be removedfrom the adhesive layer of the label during a labeling process leavingthe adhesive layer adhesively joined to the film of the label.

Multilayered films of the label of the present invention can include oneor more tie layers and/or one or more lamination adhesive layers.Referring to FIGS. 1D and 1E the labels 40 and 50 can include at leastone layer 26 which can be a tie layer or a lamination adhesive layer.When present in the label a tie layer is located between two layers ofthe film and generally functions to improve adherence between the twolayers of the film. Depending on the compositions of the two layers ofthe film which the tie layer is located between, the tie layer caninclude at least one thermoplastic polymer selected from the groupconsisting of a polyolefin to include for example ethylene and propylenehomopolymers and copolymers, an unsaturated carboxylic acid or anhydridegrafted polyolefin to include for example maleic anhydride graftedpolypropylenes and maleic anhydride grafted polyethylenes, analkene-unsaturated carboxylic acid or unsaturated carboxylate estercopolymer to include for example ethylene-alkyl methacrylate copolymersand ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, a metal salt of analkene-unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymer to include for exampleionomers which are sodium or zinc salts of ethylene-methacrylic acidcopolymers, a styrene homoplymer or copolymer, a cyclic olefinhomopolymer or copolymer, a halogen-containing polymer, a polyurethane,a polycarbonate, a polyacrylonitrile, a polyamide, an aromaticpolyether, an aromatic polyimide, an aromatic polyamide-imide, a(meth)acrylate polymer, a polyester to include for example poly(ethyleneterephthalate)s, a hydrocarbon resin to include for example hydrogenatedpolyterpene resins, and a mixture of two or more of any of the foregoingpolymers.

The film of the label of the present invention can include one or morecoatings, also known as topcoats, on its first and second surfaces toenhance adhesion of a printing ink or an adhesive to the film or toprovide protection including for example from abrasion and/or moisture.The coating can be an ink-receptive or adhesive-receptive material toinclude for example an acrylic primer or an abrasion or moistureresistant material to include for example a polyolefin or polyesterwhere the coating can be applied in a liquid form and dried or allowedto dry.

Label Processing

The film and label of the present invention can be prepared by one ormore steps that include steps selected from the group consisting of anextrusion of a single layer, a coextrusion of two or more layers, alamination of two or more layers, an application of one or morecoatings, and a combination of two or more of any of the foregoingsteps. The extrusion or coextrusion steps can be done through lineardies or annular dies. In an embodiment the film is monolayered andcontains a monolayered first film layer which is formed by an extrusionstep. In embodiments the film is multilayered and contains amultilayered first film layer which is formed by a coextrusion step, bya combination of extrusion and lamination steps, or by a combination ofextrusion and coextrusion and lamination steps. In other embodiments thefilm is multilayered and contains a first film layer and a second filmlayer where the first film layer can be monolayered or multilayered andthe second film layer can be monolayered or multilayered. The secondfilm layer can be formed separately from the first film layer ortogether with the first film layer by one or more steps as describedabove for the film, label, and the monolayered and multilayered firstfilm layer. In an embodiment a multilayered film contains a two-layeredfirst film layer where each of the two layers is formed by an extrusionstep and then the first film layer is formed by a lamination step. Thelamination can be done by bringing layers together usually underpressure with or without heat and with or without a lamination adhesive.Lamination adhesives include for example polyurethane based adhesivesand acrylic based adhesives such as acrylic based permanent pressuresensitive adhesives. In an embodiment the lamination is done by bringinglayers together at a pressure of 69 to 690 KPa (kilopascals) at anambient temperature of 23° C. with a lamination adhesive, a polyurethanebased adhesive, between the layers. In an embodiment a multilayered filmcontains a monolayered first film layer and a monolayered second filmlayer where each layer is formed by an extrusion step and then themultilayered film is formed by a lamination step.

In an embodiment, as described hereinabove, the film comprises a firstfilm layer where the first film layer is nonoriented. In an embodimentthe film is nonoriented or not stretched. In other embodiments the filmcomprises a second film layer where the second film layer is oriented orstretched uniaxially in one direction, which can be the machinedirection or the transverse direction, or the second film layer isoriented biaxially in two directions which are usually the machinedirection and the transverse direction. Orienting or stretching isstretching the second film layer or the second film layers of the filmto align the polymer chains of the thermoplastic polymer or polymers,present in the second film layer or layers, in the direction of thestretching. The stretching results in the second film layer or layershaving an increase in length and consequently a decrease in thickness.Although the stretching can be done at any temperature, it is usuallydone at an elevated temperature near the softening temperature of thepolymer or polymers. The stretching generally increases the stiffness ortensile modulus (ASTM D882) of the second film layer or layers in thedirection of the stretching. In embodiments the second film layer orsecond film layers of the film can be oriented by stretching it or themuniaxially or biaxially in a stretch ratio range of 2 to 12, 3 to 10, or4 to 8 where the stretch ratio is the ratio of the film layer lengthafter stretching to the film layer length before stretching. In order toprovide dimensional stability to an oriented second film layer or secondfilm layers of the film so it does not or they do not shrink or distortappreciably especially when exposed to elevated temperatures, theoriented second film layer or the oriented second film layers can beannealed or heat set by heating the tensioned second film layer orsecond film layers near the softening temperature of the constituentpolymer or polymers. In embodiments the annealed second film layer hasor the annealed second film layers have a linear shrinkage (ASTM D1204)at 100° C. in the machine direction and the transverse direction of lessthan 5%, less than 4.9%, less than 4.8%, or less than 3%. In anembodiment the film is a monolayered film and has only one layer. In anembodiment the film is a multilayered film and has two or more layers.In embodiments the first film layer is monolayered or is multilayeredwhere the first film layer is or first film layers are nonoriented. Inembodiments the film is multilayered and contains a monolayered secondfilm layer which is nonoriented or is oriented or is oriented andannealed. In embodiments the film is multilayered and contains amultilayered second film layer where all the layers of the second filmlayer are nonoriented, all the layers of the second film layer areoriented or oriented and annealed, or part of the layers of the secondfilm layer are oriented or oriented and annealed where part of thelayers of the second film layer includes at least one layer of thesecond film layer but not all the layers of the second film layer. Inembodiments the multilayered film has a first film layer and a secondfilm layer where both the first film layer and second film layer aremonolayered, both the first film layer and second film layer aremultilayered, the first film layer is monolayered and the second filmlayer is multilayered, or the first film layer is multilayered and thesecond film layer is monolayered. In an embodiment, referring to FIGS.1A, 1B, 1C, 1D and 1E the label has a thickness T which includes thethickness of the first film layer T_(FFL) and the thickness of theadhesive layer T_(AL), or the thickness of the first film layer T_(FFL),the thickness of the second film layer T_(SFL) and the thickness of theadhesive layer T_(AL), or the thickness of the first film layer T_(FFL),the thickness of the second film layer T_(SFL), the thickness of the tielayer T_(TL) or the lamination adhesive layer T_(LAL) and the thicknessof the adhesive layer T_(AL). The film has a thickness which is thethickness of the first film layer T_(FFL), or includes the thickness ofthe first film layer T_(FFL) and the thickness of the second film layerT_(SFL), or includes the thickness of the first film layer T_(FFL), thethickness of the second film layer T_(SFL) and the thickness of the tielayer T_(TL) or the lamination adhesive layer T_(LAL). In embodimentsthe thickness in micrometers of the film and the first film layerT_(FFL) can range from 5 to 254, 6 to 127, or 7 to 63.5. In embodimentsthe first film layer, the second film layer, the tie layer and thelamination adhesive layer can each have a thickness, respectivelyT_(FFL) and T_(SFL) and T_(TL) and T_(LAL) in micrometers ranging from1.7 to 85, 2 to 42, or 2.3 to 21.

The film can be treated on one surface or both of its surfaces toenhance performance to include abrasion resistance, moisture resistance,and adhesion of an ink or adhesive to a surface or surfaces of the film.Surface treatments include a corona discharge treatment, a flametreatment, a plasma treatment, a topcoat treatment, or combinations oftwo or more of any of the foregoing treatments. Topcoat treatmentsinclude treatment of one or both surfaces of the film with anink-receptive or adhesive-receptive material such as for example anacrylic primer and/or with a protective varnish. The treatments can bedone any time during the manufacture and subsequent processing of thefilm and label where the time of the treatment generally depends on theperformance enhancement. For example a treatment to enhance inkreception would precede a printing step while a topcoating for abrasionresistance might follow a printing step. In an embodiment the firstsurface or the second surface of the film is surface treated to enhanceadhesion of an ink to the film. In an embodiment the second surface ofthe film is surface treated to enhance adhesion of an adhesive to thefilm. In an embodiment the first surface of the film is surface treatedto enhance abrasion resistance and/or moisture resistance of the film.

In several embodiments the label includes a film, an adhesive layer, anda release liner. The label of the present invention can be prepared inany manner. In an embodiment a film or one or more layers of a film canbe slit into widths suitable for subsequent processing steps andlabeling operations. In embodiments the film can be coated with anadhesive to form an adhesive layer and then the film and adhesive layercan be combined in a lamination step with a release liner, or a releaseliner can be coated with an adhesive to form an adhesive layer and thenthe release liner and adhesive layer can be combined in a laminationstep with the film. The label containing a film, adhesive layer andrelease liner can be further processed to include printing steps and/ordie-cutting steps. In an embodiment the label, containing a film andadhesive layer and release liner, can be printed using any printingmeans and using any printing ink. Printing means include for exampleoffset lithography, flexographic, digital, thermal, inkjet and laser.Printing inks include for example water-based inks, solvent-based inksand UV-activated inks. Alternatively in another embodiment a film or afilm layer can be printed prior to eventually combining with an adhesivelayer or with an adhesive layer and release liner as described above. Inembodiments the film is monolayered or multilayered and has a firstouter surface and a second outer surface where the first outer surfaceof the film has a print layer or the second outer surface of the filmhas a print layer which can also have an adhesive layer adhesivelyjoined to the print layer. In an embodiment the film is multilayered andhas two or more layers where a print layer is located between the layersof the film. In an embodiment the film is multilayered and has a firstfilm layer and a second film layer where either the first film layer orthe second film layer is printed and then the first film layer and thesecond film layer are combined in a lamination step where a print layeris located between the first film layer and second film layer. In anembodiment a label containing a printed or nonprinted film, adhesivelayer and release liner is die-cut using any die-cutting means, toinclude for example a rotary cutting die, where as a result of thedie-cutting a die-cut ladder-shaped matrix of the film and adhesivelayer is formed that contains a series of individual labels on therelease liner which acts as a carrier for the labels. This die-cutseries of labels can then be used to label articles in a labelingprocess where individual labels are successively removed from therelease liner and the die-cut ladder-shaped matrix. Processing toinclude extrusion, coextrusion, orienting, annealing, coating, surfacetreatments, label construction, printing, die-cutting and labeling ofarticles is further described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,217,463 to Hendersonand U.S. Pat. No. 7,144,542 to Holzer et al.

Label Construction

In an embodiment a label includes a film having an upper or firstsurface and a lower or second surface and comprising a first film layer,and an adhesive layer having an upper or first surface and a lower orsecond surface where the first surface of the adhesive layer isadhesively joined to the second surface of the film. In an embodiment alabel 10 includes a film comprising a first film layer 12 having a firstsurface 11 and a second surface 13, and an adhesive layer 14 having afirst surface 15 and a second surface 17 where the first surface 15 ofthe adhesive layer 14 underlies the second surface 13 of the first filmlayer 12. The term “underlie” and related term “overlie” when referringto a first layer underlying or overlying a second layer mean that thefirst layer can partially or fully cover the second layer and that thefirst layer and second layer can be in direct contact with each other orthat one or more intermediate layers, to include for example tie layersor lamination adhesive layers, can be located between the first layerand second layer. In an embodiment a label 20 includes a film comprisinga first film layer 12 having a first surface 11 and a second surface 13and a second film layer 22 having a first surface 21 and a secondsurface 23 and a thickness T_(SFL) and an adhesive layer 14 having afirst surface 15 and a second surface 17 and a thickness T_(AL) wherethe first surface 21 of the second film layer 22 underlies the secondsurface 13 of the first film layer 12 and the first surface 15 of theadhesive layer 14 underlies the second surface 23 of the second filmlayer 22. In an embodiment a label 30 includes a film comprising asecond film layer 22 having a first surface 21 and a second surface 23and a thickness T_(SFL) and a first film layer 12 having a first surface11 and a second surface 13, and an adhesive layer 14 having a firstsurface 15 and a second surface 17 and a thickness T_(AL) where thefirst surface 11 of the first film layer 12 underlies the second surface23 of the second film layer 22 and the first surface 15 of the adhesivelayer 14 underlies the second surface 13 of the first film layer 12. Inan embodiment a label 40 includes a film comprising a first film layer12 having a first surface 11 and a second surface 13 and a tie layer orlamination adhesive layer 26 having a first surface 25 and a secondsurface 27 and a second film layer 22 having a first surface 21 and asecond surface 23 and a thickness T_(SFL), and an adhesive layer 14having a first surface 15 and a second surface 17 and a thickness T_(AL)where the first surface 25 of the tie or lamination adhesive layer 26underlies the second surface 13 of the first film layer 12 and the firstsurface 21 of the second film layer 22 underlies the second surface 27of the tie or lamination adhesive layer 26 and the first surface 15 ofthe adhesive layer 14 underlies the second surface 23 of the second filmlayer 22. In an embodiment a label 50 includes a film comprising asecond film layer 22 having a first surface 21 and a second surface 23and a thickness T_(SFL) and a tie layer or lamination adhesive layer 26having a first surface 25 and a second surface 27 and a first film layer12 having a first surface 11 and a second surface 13, and an adhesivelayer 14 having a first surface 15 and a second surface 17 and athickness T_(AL) where the first surface 25 of the tie or laminationadhesive layer 26 underlies the second surface 23 of the second filmlayer 22 and the first surface 11 of the first film layer 12 underliesthe second surface 27 of the tie or lamination adhesive layer 26 and thefirst surface 15 of the adhesive layer 14 underlies the second surface13 of the first film layer 12. In an embodiment the second film layer,as described hereinabove, has a combination of properties where thelayer or layers of the second film layer have a tensile modulus (ASTMD882) in a machine direction of at least 715 MPa, at least 830 MPa, orat least 945 MPa after immersion in water at a temperature of about 80°C. for at least about 3 minutes, and an absolute areal dimensionalchange (ASTM D1204) of less than 4.9%, less than 4.5%, or less than 4%after immersion in water at a temperature of about 80° C. for at leastabout 3 minutes. In an embodiment the second film layer 22, having afterimmersion in water at a temperature of about 80° C. for at least about 3minutes the combined properties of a tensile modulus (ASTM D882) in amachine direction of at least 715 MPa and an absolute areal dimensionalchange (ASTM D882) of less than 4.9%, has a thickness T_(SFL) which isgreater than the thickness T_(AL) of the adhesive layer 14 and in otherembodiments the thickness of the second film layer is at least 5%greater, at least 10% greater, at least 20% greater, at least 30%greater, at least 40% greater, at least 50% greater, or at least 60%greater than the thickness of the adhesive layer. In embodiments thefilm or label has high clarity visual aesthetics where the film or labelis clear having a TAPPI (Technical Association of the Pulp and PaperIndustry) T425 opacity of 12% or less, 10% or less, or 8% or less and ahaze (ASTM D1003) of 12% or less, 10% or less, or 8% or less. Inembodiments the film or label is dispensable during a labeling operationwhere the film or label has an ISO (International Organization forStandardization) 2493 bending resistance in mN (milliNewtons) of atleast 14, at least 16, at least 18, or at least 20. In embodiments alabel 10, 20, 30, 40 or 50 includes an adhesive layer 14 having a secondsurface 17 and a release liner 62 having a first surface 61 and a secondsurface 63 where the first surface 61 of the release liner 62, whichnormally includes a release coating, is releasably attached to thesecond surface 17 of the adhesive layer 14. The label of the presentinvention can comprise a monolayered or multilayered first film layerand a monolayered or multilayered second film layer where the label caninclude any type of layer construction regarding the ordering of filmlayers such as for example alternating first film layers and second filmlayers.

Label Removability

The labels of the present invention are removable from a containerduring an industrial washing process when subjected to a warm or hotwashing fluid. The washing fluid includes washing liquids such as forexample water or an aqueous caustic solution where the temperature ofthe washing fluid or washing liquid is usually at least 50° C. andtypically can range from 50 to 100° C. Aqueous caustic solutions includefor example aqueous caustic soda solutions which can be dilute solutionscontaining 0.5 to 4% by weight sodium hydroxide. In embodiments anaqueous caustic solution can have a pH of at least 4, at least 6, atleast 7, or at least 8 where pH is defined as—log (logarithm to the base10) of the hydrogen ion concentration in the solution. The containersinclude those described hereinabove such as for example plastic andglass containers which can be used in the beverage industry and arereusable and/or recyclable. In an embodiment the container is a glassbeer bottle which is reusable and/or recyclable. In an embodiment alabeled container includes a label, as described throughout the DetailedDescription and Drawings and claims, and a container where (i) the label10, 20, 30, 40 or 50 is attached to the container 72 having a verticalaxis which is parallel to the height of the container and a horizontalaxis which is parallel to the circumference of the container where thesecond surface of the adhesive layer is adhesively joined to an outersurface of the container, (ii) the machine direction or the transversedirection of the first film layer circumferentially follows thehorizontal axis of the container, and (iii) the label is removable fromthe container after immersion in a washing liquid where the temperatureof the washing liquid is at least 50° C., greater than 50° C., greaterthan 55° C., or greater than 60° C. and the label detaches from thecontainer. In embodiments the term “follows” means that the machinedirection or the transverse direction of the first film layer thatcircumferentially follows the horizontal axis of the container can beparallel to the horizontal axis or that the machine or transversedirection can form an angle with the horizontal axis of less than 45°(45 degrees), less than 20°, or less than 10°. In embodiments thecontainer of the above described labeled container can be any shapedcontainer to include a cylindrically shaped container where the verticalaxis of the container is parallel to the length of the cylindricallyshaped container and the horizontal axis of the container is parallel tothe circumference of the cylindrically shaped container. The label ofthe present invention includes a first film layer, as describedhereinabove, which has a significant inherent shrinkage when heatedabove ambient temperature where the first film layer is nonoriented andhas a relatively high two-dimensional change in area which is an arealshrinkage as measured in the machine direction and the transversedirection after immersion in a warm or hot washing fluid. Labels,containing a first film layer or a first film layer and a second filmlayer, attached to a container and immersed in a warm aqueous washingliquid having a temperature of at least 50° C. or greater than 50° C.curl due to the inherent shrinkage of the first film layer which exposesthe adhesive layer of the label to the warm aqueous washing liquid. Theadhesive of the adhesive layer is generally selected that has a propertyselected from the group consisting of a decrease in adhesion strength atelevated temperatures generally above a room or ambient temperature, adecrease in adhesion strength on contact with an aqueous causticsolution such as for example an aqueous caustic soda solution, and acombination of the two foregoing properties so that upon exposure of theadhesive to the washing liquid, the label is able to detach from thecontainer. In an embodiment the label of the present invention includesa film comprising a first film layer having a first surface and a secondsurface and a second film layer having a first surface and a secondsurface, and an adhesive layer having a first surface and a secondsurface where the first surface of a layer of the second film layerunderlies the second surface of a layer of the first film layer, thefirst surface of the adhesive layer is adhesively joined to the secondsurface of a layer of the second film layer, and the second film layer,as described hereinabove, compared to the first film layer, afterimmersion in water at a temperature of about 80° C., has a higher lossin tensile modulus in a machine direction or a lower areal dimensionalchange or a combination of the two foregoing properties. In embodimentsa label, as described throughout the Detailed Description and Drawingsand claims, becomes detached and removed from a cylindrical glasscontainer within 3 minutes after immersion of the container and theattached label in a washing liquid where the temperature of the washingliquid is at least 50° C., greater than 50° C., greater than 55° C., orgreater than 60° C.

Film and Label Examples

The following nonlimiting film examples and label examples furtherdescribe and illustrate the present invention.

Table I lists film examples that were used in subsequent label examplesand also provides the source and physical properties of the films.

TABLE I Modulus³, MPa Areal Film Resin 80° C. Dimensional Example No.Identity¹ T_(g) ², ° C. Ambient Wet Change⁴, % 1 COC 65 2410 1450 13.2 2PMMA 98 1680 1290 1.4 3 PC 145 1980 1810 0.4 4 PA 75 2660 600 5.4 5EVOH- 69 2900 110 8.7 32% ¹Film Example 1 was a 50.8 micrometer thickcyclic olefin copolymer (COC) monolayered film prepared by extrusionwithout orientation using TOPAS Advanced Polymers ethylene-norbornenebased cyclic olefin copolymer resin TOPAS ™ 9506. Film Example 2 was a50.8 micrometer thick poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) monolayered filmprepared by extrusion without orientation using impact modifiercontaining poly(methyl methacrylate) resin PSR-9 manufactured by ArkemaInc. Film Example 3 was a 25.4 micrometer thick polycarbonate (PC)monolayered film prepared by extrusion without orientation usingMitsubishi bisphenol A based polycarbonate resin E2000. Film Example 4was a 58.4 micrometer thick aromatic polyamide (PA) monolayered filmprepared by extrusion without orientation using an aromatic polyamideMXD6 resin from Mitsubishi Gas Chemical American which was derived frommeta-xylylenediamine. Film Example 5 was a 50 micrometer thickethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer monolayered film prepared by extrusionwithout orientation using an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer EVAL ®resin from EVAL Americas which had a 32 mole % ethylene content(EVOH-32%). ²T_(g) is the glass transition temperature for each of thepolymeric resins. ³Tensile modulus (ASTM D882) for each film example wasmeasured in the machine direction at ambient room temperature of 23° C.and after immersion of the film in water at a temperature of about 80°C. for at least about 3 minutes. ⁴Areal dimensional change in themachine and transverse directions was measured for each film exampleusing ASTM D1204 test procedure after immersion of the film in water ata temperature of about 80° C. for at least about 3 minutes. FilmExamples 1-4 had a decrease in area while Film Example 5 had an increasein area.

Table II lists label examples and includes label constructions andresults for removability from a container.

TABLE II Label Label Removability², Seconds Example No. Construction¹Ambient Heated 1 COC/PSA 60 >180 2 PMMA/PSA 25 >180 3 PC/PSA 85 103 4PA/PSA 13 41 5 EVOH-32%/PSA >180 44 6 COC/LA/PMMA/PSA 2 35 7COC/LA/PC/PSA 137 81 8 COC/LA/PA/PSA 106 137 9 COC/LA/EVOH-32%/PSA >180102 ¹Label Examples 1-9 of Table II were prepared from the correspondingFilm Examples 1-5 of Table I except that while Label Example 1 used a50.8 micrometer thick COC film, Label Examples 6-9 used a 25.4micrometer thick COC film. Each label example was 76.2 mm (millimeters)high and 50.8 mm wide where the label width was the machine direction ofthe film or film layers. Each label example was coated with a pressuresensitive adhesive (PSA) at 15 grams per square meter on a dry weightbasis. Label Examples 6-9 were prepared by laminating the correspondingfilm examples together with a lamination adhesive (LA) then applying thepressure sensitive adhesive to respectively the PMMA, PC, PA, andEVOH-32% side of the laminate. ²Label Examples 1-9 were applied to glassbottles having a circumference of 191 mm. The labels were applied to thebottles with the PSA layer in contact with the outer surface of thebottle where the label width followed the circumference or horizontalaxis of the bottle. After the bottles were labeled they were stored for7 days at an ambient temperature of 20-23° C. to simulate an ambientstorage or for 2 days at 60° C. followed by 1 day at an ambienttemperature of 20-23° C. to simulate a heated storage. After ambient orheated storage, label removability was evaluated by initially immersingthe bottles for 1 minute in a 50° C. water bath that simulated a rinsingstep and then immersing the rinsed bottles in a water bath at atemperature of about 80° C., that simulated a washing step, andmeasuring the time in seconds until the label detached from the bottlein a water bath at a temperature of about 80° C. or until 180 secondshad elapsed.

Each of the documents referred to in the Detailed Description isincorporated herein by reference. All numerical quantities in thisapplication used in the Summary of the Invention, Detailed Descriptionand appended claims are understood to be modified by the word “about”except in the examples or where explicitly indicated otherwise. Allrange and ratio limits in the Summary of the Invention, DetailedDescription and appended claims are understood to be combinable.

While the invention has been presented in the Detailed Description andappended claims, it is understood that various modifications of thisinvention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon readingthis application. Therefore these various modifications, that fallwithin the scope of the appended claims and/or Detailed Description, areconsidered to be a part of this invention.

1. A label, comprising: (a) a film having a first surface and a secondsurface and comprising a first film layer; and an adhesive layer havinga first surface and a second surface and comprising an adhesive whereinthe first surface of the adhesive layer is adhered to the second surfaceof the film, the first film layer being in an attached state when thesecond surface of the adhesive layer is adhered to an outer surface of acontainer, the adhesive layer having an adhesion force between thesecond surface of the adhesive layer and the outer surface of thecontainer; wherein the first film in the attached state exhibits adetaching force that is greater than the adhesion force when thecontainer is immersed in a washing fluid having a temperature of about80° C. for a period of about 3 minutes; (b) wherein the adhesiveexhibits at least one of a decrease in adhesion strength at temperaturesabove a room or ambient temperature and a decrease in adhesion strengthon contact with a decrease in adhesion strength on contact with anaqueous caustic solution, and a combination of the two foregoingproperties; (c) wherein the first film layer comprises at least onenon-oriented thermoplastic polymer wherein the at least onethermoplastic polymer has a glass transition temperature in the range offrom about 40° C. to about 190° C., wherein the at least onethermoplastic polymer of the first film layer comprises a polymerselected from the group consisting of a cyclic olefin homopolymer, acyclic olefin copolymer, and a mixture of two or more of any of theforegoing polymers, and (i) the first film layer has a tensile modulus(ASTM D882) in the machine direction after immersion in water at atemperature of about 80° C. for at least 3 minutes which is at least 40%of the tensile modulus in the machine direction in ambient air, or (ii)the first film layer has an areal shrinkage (ASTM D1204) of at leastabout 5.3% after immersion in water at a temperature of about 80° C. forat least about 3 minutes, or a combination of c(i) and c(ii).
 2. Thelabel of claim 1 wherein the first film layer has a tensile modulus(ASTM D882) in the machine direction of at least about 800 MPa afterimmersion in water at a temperature of about 80° C. for at least about 3minutes.
 3. The label of claim 1 wherein the at least one thermoplasticpolymer of the first film layer comprises a cyclic olefin copolymerderived from at least one cyclic olefin and at least one alpha-olefin.4. The label of claim 1 wherein the film is a monolayered film.
 5. Thelabel of claim 1 wherein the film is a multilayered film.
 6. The labelof claim 1 wherein the first film layer comprises two or more sublayerswherein each of the two or more sublayers comprises at least onenon-oriented thermoplastic polymer wherein the at least onethermoplastic polymer has a glass transition temperature in the range offrom about 40° C. to about 190° C., each of the two or more sublayershas (i) a tensile modulus (ASTM D882) in the machine direction afterimmersion in water at a temperature of about 80° C. for at least 3minutes which is at least 40% of the tensile modulus in the machinedirection in ambient air; or (ii) each of the two or more layers has anareal shrinkage (ASTM D1204) of at least about 5.3% after immersion inwater at a temperature of about 80° C. for at least about 3 minutes; ora combination of (i) and (ii).
 7. The label of claim 19 wherein thesecond film layer comprises one or more sublayers wherein each of theone or more sublayers of the second film layer comprises at least onethermoplastic polymer, and each of the one or more sublayers of thesecond film layer has (i) a tensile modulus (ASTM D882) in the machinedirection after immersion in water at a temperature of about 80° C. forat least 3 minutes which is at least 40% of the tensile modulus in themachine direction in ambient air; or (ii) an areal shrinkage (ASTMD1204) of less than 5.3% after immersion in water at a temperature ofabout 80° C. for at least about 3 minutes; or a combination of (i) and(ii).
 8. (canceled)
 9. (canceled)
 10. The label of claim 1 wherein theadhesive of the adhesive layer is a pressure sensitive adhesive.
 11. Thelabel of claim 1 wherein the label further comprises a release linerhaving a first surface and a second surface wherein the first surface ofthe release liner is releasably attached to the second surface of theadhesive layer.
 12. The label of claim 1 wherein the film has an opacityof 12% of less.
 13. A labeled container, comprising: the label of claim1; and a container having a horizontal axis wherein the label isattached to the container wherein the second surface of the adhesivelayer is adhesively joined to an outer surface of the container, and themachine direction or the transverse direction of the first film layercircumferentially follows the horizontal axis of the container.
 14. Thelabeled container of claim 13 wherein the container is a cylindricallyshaped container wherein the horizontal axis of the container isparallel to the circumference of the cylindrically shaped container. 15.A method of removing a label from a container, comprising: (i) providinga labeled container of claim 13; (ii) removing the label from thecontainer by immersing the container with the attached label in a liquidwherein the temperature of the liquid is at least about 50° C. and thelabel detaches from the container.
 16. The method of claim 15 whereinthe liquid is water or a caustic aqueous solution.
 17. A label,comprising: (a) a first film having a first surface and a second surfaceand comprising a first film layer, the first film layer comprising atleast one thermoplastic polymer; (b) a second film having a firstsurface and a second surface and comprising a second film layer, thesecond film layer comprising at least one thermoplastic polymer whereinthe first surface of the first film layer underlies the second surfaceof the second film layer; (c) an adhesive layer having a first surfaceand a second surface and comprising an adhesive, wherein the firstsurface of the adhesive layer is adhered to the second surface of thefirst film, the first film layer being in an attached state when thesecond surface of the adhesive layer is adhered to an outer surface of acontainer, the adhesive layer having an adhesion force between thesecond surface of the adhesive layer and the outer surface of thecontainer; wherein the first film in the attached state exhibits adetaching force that is greater than the adhesion force when thecontainer is immersed in a washing fluid having a temperature of about80° C. for a period of about 3 minutes; wherein the adhesive exhibits atleast one of a decrease in adhesion strength at temperatures above aroom or ambient temperature and a decrease in adhesion strength oncontact with a decrease in adhesion strength on contact with an aqueouscaustic solution, and a combination of the two foregoing properties;wherein when compared to the first film layer the second film layerexhibits at least one of (i) a higher loss in tensile modulus in amachine direction, (ii) a lower areal dimensional change, and (iii) acombination of the two foregoing properties after immersion in water ata temperature of about 80° C.; wherein the label has an opacity of 12%of less; and wherein the first film layer and the second film layer arenonoriented.
 18. The label of claim 17 wherein the first film layer hasa property selected from at least one of (i) a tensile modulus (ASTMD882) in a machine direction or a transverse direction of at least 800MPa after immersion in water having a temperature of around 80° C. for aperiod of about 3 minutes; (ii) an absolute areal dimensional change(ASTM D1204) of less than about 5.0% after immersion in water having atemperature of around 80° C. for a period of about 3 minutes; and acombination of the two foregoing properties.
 19. The label of claim 17wherein the second film layer has a property selected from at least oneof (i) a tensile modulus (ASTM D882) in the machine direction afterimmersion in water at a temperature of about 80° C. for at least 3minutes which is at least 40% of the tensile modulus in the machinedirection in ambient air, (ii) an areal shrinkage (ASTM D1204) of atleast about 5.3% after immersion in water at a temperature of about 80°C. for at least about 3 minutes, and a combination of c(i) and c(ii).20. The label of claim 17 wherein the at least one thermoplastic polymerof the first film layer comprises a polymer selected from the groupconsisting of a polyolefin, a (meth)acrylate polymer, a styrene polymer,a polyester, a halogen-containing polymer, a polycarbonate, apolyacrylonitrile, an aromatic polyether, an aromatic polyimide, anaromatic polyamide-imide, an olefin-vinyl alcohol copolymer, apolyamide, and a mixture of two or more of any of the foregoingpolymers.
 21. The label of claim 17 wherein the at least onethermoplastic polymer of the second film layer comprises a polymerselected from the group consisting of a cyclic olefin homopolymer, acyclic olefin copolymer, and a mixture of two or more of any of theforegoing polymers.
 22. The label of claim 1 wherein the first filmlayer circumferentially follows the horizontal axis of the container inat least one of a machine direction and a transverse direction.
 23. Thelabel of claim 17 wherein the first film layer circumferentially followsthe horizontal axis of the container in at least one of a machinedirection and a transverse direction.
 24. The label of claim 1 whereinthe container is a cylindrically shaped container wherein a horizontalaxis of the container is parallel to the circumference of thecylindrically shaped container.
 25. The label of claim 17 wherein thecontainer is a cylindrically shaped container wherein a horizontal axisof the container is parallel to the circumference of the cylindricallyshaped container.